Table Of ContentFrom: Flecha, Juan
Sent: Wednesday, January 16, 2019 12:16 PM
To: Beutner, Austin
Cc: Maldonado, Hilda; Ekchian, Vivian; Melvoin, Nick
Subject: VOICES FROM THE FIELD: THE STRIKE'S IMPACT ON THE ASSOCIATED ADMINISTRATORS
OF LOS ANGELES
Importance: High
Superintendent's letter to Juan
Greetings Superintendent Beutner:
I am in receipt of your thank you letter dated January 15, 2019. I need to take this
opportunity to express the concerns of AALA members regarding the dire and unsafe
working conditions they are experiencing. The expectation is your immediate action to
address and ameliorate the distress and outright anxiety our members are experiencing.
A member called me this morning in virtual tears, and afraid for their safety. Yesterday,
their car was swarmed with picketers yelling obscenities and blocking the entrance to the
parking lot. The member, besides being apoplectic, is beyond disappointed with
LASPD. School police monitored the situation from afar and did not intervene. The school
police officer later did offer an apology, and a commendation for "handling the situation the
right way." This interaction did nothing to address the sheer terror and panic the member
felt, and their genuine and legitimate concern for their health and safety. Another member
shared: This (the strike) is unsafe for students and for us as employees.
On behalf of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, the demand is the District
ensure the safe entry and egress of every one of our members. Perhaps schools need
to be closed if the District cannot guarantee the health and safety of every AALA
front-line manger.
Following are the additional concerns cited by AALA members throughout the District:
I am contacting you with a concern regarding the support being given to us during the last
two days of the strike. I received a message from Superintendent Beutner on Sunday at 9:07
p.m. He said "I have your backs." I am not sure what he means by "He has our back." This
was the FIRST time I heard a message directly from him regarding the strike. At this very
moment, I do not feel anyone in LAUSD cares about my health or well-being. I must have a
different understanding of the meaning "I have your back."
There is NO communication regarding the status of negotiations being given to principals.
Is it possible to receive updates on the labor situation? Is the District even interested in
resolving the strike? Perhaps more energy needs to be placed on strategizing how to
immediately end the strike rather than the endless and unhelpful press conferences.
Can anyone tell us the timeline as to when the strike will end? Is this definitely going through
this week? The lack of communication with school site principals is difficult as I do not know
whether to strategize for the long term. For example, our school is scheduled to have a Common
PD next week, and we are scheduled to begin an evening credit recovery program for five
neighboring schools.
The messages we are required to send are inaccurate and untruthful. Everything is not
copacetic at all of our schools. Some schools have over 200 students with one credentialed
person.
The messaging is becoming a burden! Principals are being asked to send "soft and benevolent"
messages about the school day. Central office follows-up by sending parents threatening
messages immediately following ours.
On behalf of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, the demand is principals
are informed of the District's strategy to immediately end the strike, begin the
healing process, and return to some sense of business as usual, and ensure teachers
are teaching and students are learning. Otherwise, perhaps schools need to be closed
if the District does not have a roadmap or strategy to immediately end this strike.
I have children by the hundreds coming to school since Monday. More and more students are
attending every day because genuine instruction is taking place, the campus is safe, and
parents have confidence in my leadership. There are neighboring schools were the
attendance is paltry at best, and there are dozens of adults with very little to do.
I am appalled by the Local District's response when I requested staff be redeployed to make
the support more equitable. The response was direct and terse: "Your numbers do not
necessitate additional staff."
"Large classes are being staffed with very little certificated support which means TAs,
administrators and all school staff are stretched to the limits each day."
"The expectation that Principals are both filling the operational role and at the same time
teaching students is unrealistic. This is not ok."
"The working conditions were untenable before the strike. The situation is now
impossible. Learning is not happening. Schools should have been closed."
"It is unacceptable for schools to remain open, and for administrators to carry the weight of all
of it."
On behalf of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, the demand is for Central
Office and Local District support staff to be REDEPLOYED to sites with high
attendance rates. Otherwise, perhaps schools need to be closed if the District does
not have the capacity to redirect support personnel to where they are needed most.
Principals are being asked to do the job business as usual. It is not! I'm on site by 5:30 am and
leave at 5:00 pm or later. We are being asked to send out messages saying everything is
alright. It's not alright I want my teachers back!!
The messages to family regarding attendance and truancy are inconsistent, punitive and
constantly changing. Principals are expected to send Connect-Ed messages that reinforce
attendance and families are feeling alienated. The messages swing wildly from students will be
truant (which implies a serious consequence) to "We will not be sending home attendance
messages, and this will not impact transcripts or graduation.
Connect-Ed messages contain inaccurate information regarding the actual level of instruction
that is happening at schools. In some instances, principals are being asked to specifically
delineate what learning activities took place throughout the day. As always, this puts principals
in a position of justifying an educational experience that is nowhere close to what is actually
taking place. This will continue to erode the relationship and TRUST between families and
schools.
Connect-Ed messages are sent centrally to families without principals being made aware of the
what is being communicated to families.
We are tired of sending black board messages.
An Assistant principal was told to delete a Facebook post with the "I'm with Teachers" logo.
Valley principals were told NOT to bring doughnuts or be nice/cordial to teachers.
It is a farce to tell the public kids are learning! The Superintendent needs to share how many
students have logged into Edgenuity. This alone will show it is not business as usual.
On behalf of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, the demand is for Central
Office to immediately relieve principals from sending recorded updates. The
updates shall be accurate, timely, and in one-voice, preferably yours. Moreover, the
messaging to administrators must be consistent and unified. Otherwise, perhaps
schools need to be closed if the District does not have the capacity to send a singular
and unified message daily.
I understand the strike is heavy business. However, I am not hearing anything about the
sacrifices administrators are making to effectively provide a safe school environment, and the
semblance of instruction.
Into the night and early mornings, my colleagues are in text threads making sure each of our
schools are open and safe. We were on our campuses by 5:30 a.m. and earlier, in some cases
earlier finalizing details, and to execute our plans with fidelity.
I am receiving a million emails daily; making mid-course corrections to plans and schedules;
and collecting data and artifacts to send to everyone.
Our three Assistant Principals are doing an amazing job holding things down with about 90-
120 students in a class. They have planned lessons and are even grading student work to
ensure that they get timely feedback.
I understand I am a salaried employee. And while I do appreciate that the District is paying
other job classifications to extend their hours to support the students we serve, I am feeling
like chopped liver. No offer whatsoever has been made for the additional time I am
investing. Extra-duty pay is just a simple first step to show the superintendent "has our backs.
On behalf of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, the demand is for every
AALA administrator to receive Extra Duty Pay for every additional hour beyond the
workday given the exigent circumstance. The extra pay shall account for the
additional time administrators have been obligated to invest to keep schools open
during the strike. The extra pay shall be funded by the District and not from school
funds.
The District has always held us accountable and held our feet to the fire to ensure
collaborative and cohesive working relationships with students, teachers and the school
community. The District's unwillingness to participate and be transparent in negotiations is
beyond deplorable, and it is not modeling the behavior expected of us. All of our efforts as
instructional leaders are being undermined by the District's leadership and the Board of
Education. The District's lack of transparency and unethical behavior trickles down to us as
front-line managers, and as the face of the District. Juan, I am directing you as our
representative to tell the District it is time to walk-the-talk and have our backs by following
the very assistance and guidance it gives every employee at the drop of a hat and for the
smallest of transgressions:
a. Establish a safe and respectful District as you serve as the model for student
and adult behavior.
b. You are directed to maintain a safe, respectful school district in which you
act ethically by upholding District policy.
c. You are directed to be professional and respectful in all of your interactions
with students, parents, staff, and all stakeholders at all times.
d. The District's senior leadership with its highly visible role and responsibility
sets a safe, respectful environment, always ensuring the adherence to District
policy.
e. Adhere to the essential functions and professional responsibilities required by
demonstrating
the Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Personal Characteristics as specified in the
LAUSD Human Resources Division Class Description.
Adhere to the following at all times:
1. The LAUSD Employee Code of Ethics;
2. The LAUSD Ethics Policy Statement;
3. The California Professional Standards for Education Leaders
(CPSEL);
4. The LAUSD School Leadership Framework;
5. The LAUSD Board Resolution Reaffirming the Respectful Tre
atment of All persons; LAUSD Non-Discrimination and Anti-
Harassment
On behalf of the Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, the demand is the District
is to refrain from intimidating or taking any actions which would be considered
retaliatory against any member of the association. Retaliation and/or intimidation
may lead to a loss of a confidence.
I am including Mr. Melvoin in this email. He called yesterday to compliment and thank our
members as well. I briefly shared with him the serious and detrimental challenges many of
our members are experiencing. He showed support, and an interest in wanting to make
sure their concerns are being heard and addressed by the District's senior leadership.
JAF
Juan A. Flecha
President
Associated Administrators of Los Angeles
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